How to Defend Against Credential Hijacking Attacks

Credential hijacking attacks, also known as account takeovers (ATO), have become a significant threat in the cybersecurity landscape. Cybercriminals use stolen credentials, often obtained through phishing, malware, or data breaches, to gain unauthorized access to online accounts. Once inside, attackers can steal sensitive information, conduct fraudulent transactions, or use the account as a launching point for further attacks.

This blog outlines the nature of credential hijacking attacks, their consequences, and the best practices organizations can adopt to defend against them.

Understanding Credential Hijacking Attacks

Credential hijacking occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized access to an online account using legitimate login credentials, such as a username and password. The growing availability of credentials on dark web marketplaces and the widespread use of weak or reused passwords have made it easier for cybercriminals to execute these attacks.

Common Methods of Credential Hijacking:

1. Phishing Attacks: Attackers use fake emails, websites, or messages that mimic legitimate sources to trick users into revealing their login credentials.

2. Credential Stuffing: Attackers use automated tools to test stolen username-password combinations across multiple websites. If users have reused their credentials on different platforms, the attacker can gain access to those accounts.

3. Brute Force Attacks: Attackers systematically guess passwords until they find the correct one. With the rise of weak passwords, this method can still be effective.

4. Keylogging Malware: Keyloggers record everything a user types, capturing login credentials when the user enters them into a website or app.

5. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: In this attack, a cybercriminal intercepts communication between a user and a service, capturing login credentials transmitted in plain text or via weakly encrypted channels.

Consequences of Credential Hijacking

Credential hijacking can have severe consequences for both individuals and organizations:

– Financial Loss: Attackers can use stolen credentials to conduct unauthorized transactions, steal funds, or engage in fraudulent activities.

– Data Breaches: A hijacked account can provide access to sensitive personal or business information, leading to data breaches and loss of confidential data.

– Reputational Damage: Businesses that suffer from credential hijacking attacks may lose customer trust and suffer damage to their reputation, especially if attackers misuse customer accounts.

– Further Compromise of Systems: Attackers can leverage compromised accounts to launch more attacks, such as spear-phishing, spreading malware, or gaining access to other parts of a network.

Best Practices for Defending Against Credential Hijacking

Protecting against credential hijacking requires a multi-layered approach that focuses on both securing credentials and detecting and responding to suspicious account activity.

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to prevent credential hijacking. Even if attackers manage to steal a user’s login credentials, they will be unable to access the account without the second factor, which could be a one-time password (OTP), biometric authentication, or a physical security token.

– Use Time-Based OTPs: Use MFA solutions that generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) via apps like Google Authenticator or Authy.

– Push Notifications: Push-based MFA solutions notify users when a login attempt is made, allowing them to approve or deny access.

– Physical Tokens: Hardware security keys, such as YubiKeys, provide an additional layer of security by requiring users to physically present the key during the authentication process.

2. Implement Strong Password Policies

Weak or reused passwords are a common entry point for credential hijacking attacks. Implementing strong password policies can significantly reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.

– Require Complex Passwords: Ensure passwords meet complexity requirements, such as a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

– Enforce Regular Password Updates: Require users to change their passwords regularly, especially after a suspected breach or compromise.

– Ban Common and Reused Passwords: Use tools to detect and prevent users from setting commonly used or previously breached passwords. Many services now integrate with breach databases to ensure new passwords haven’t been compromised elsewhere.

– Password Managers: Encourage the use of password managers, which generate and store complex, unique passwords for each account.

3. Monitor for Suspicious Login Activity

Implement real-time monitoring to detect suspicious or abnormal login attempts. This includes monitoring login activity for patterns that could indicate credential hijacking.

– Login Location and IP Address Monitoring: Track the geographic locations and IP addresses of login attempts. If a user typically logs in from one country but suddenly appears to be logging in from another, this should trigger an alert.

– Unusual Device or Browser: If a user account is accessed from an unfamiliar device or browser, trigger an additional layer of authentication, such as MFA.

– Behavioral Analytics: Use behavioral analytics to detect anomalies in user activity, such as logging in at unusual times or accessing parts of the account that are rarely used.

4. Educate Users on Phishing and Security Best Practices

Phishing remains one of the most common methods of credential theft. Regularly educating employees and users on how to recognize phishing emails and other social engineering tactics can help prevent credential hijacking.

– Simulated Phishing Campaigns: Conduct simulated phishing campaigns to test employees’ ability to recognize phishing emails and provide training when needed.

– Security Awareness Training: Regularly update users on security best practices, including recognizing suspicious links, verifying the legitimacy of email sources, and avoiding entering credentials on unfamiliar websites.

– In-App Warnings: Provide real-time warnings within applications when users try to click on suspicious links or access potentially unsafe content.

5. Use HTTPS and Secure Communication Channels

Ensure that all login forms and account-related communications are conducted over secure channels using HTTPS/TLS encryption. This prevents attackers from intercepting credentials during transmission.

– Enforce HTTPS: Enforce HTTPS across your website and web applications to ensure secure transmission of data. Consider implementing HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) to further protect against protocol downgrade attacks.

– VPN for Remote Access: Require employees and users to connect to the network using a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing accounts remotely, ensuring an encrypted communication channel.

6. Implement Account Lockouts and Rate Limiting

To defend against brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks, implement account lockout mechanisms and rate limiting.

– Account Lockout: After a certain number of failed login attempts, temporarily lock the account and notify the user. This prevents attackers from guessing passwords or testing large volumes of credentials.

– Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to throttle login attempts, preventing automated tools from bombarding your authentication systems with rapid credential submissions.

7. Use CAPTCHAs to Prevent Automated Attacks

CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart) can be used to prevent automated attacks such as credential stuffing and brute force attacks. CAPTCHA systems challenge users with tasks that are easy for humans but difficult for bots to solve, helping to block automated login attempts.

8. Secure API Endpoints

If your platform offers API-based access, ensure that API endpoints are properly secured to prevent attackers from hijacking accounts through insecure APIs.

– Use API Authentication and Tokens: Require proper authentication for all API requests. Use OAuth tokens or API keys to ensure that only authorized users can access your API.

– Rate Limit API Calls: Implement rate limits on API requests to prevent attackers from using APIs to automate credential hijacking attacks.

9. Monitor the Dark Web for Leaked Credentials

Cybercriminals often trade or sell stolen credentials on the dark web. Monitoring the dark web for leaked credentials can help you detect compromised accounts before they are used in credential hijacking attacks.

– Dark Web Monitoring Services: Use dark web monitoring tools or services to detect when credentials from your platform have been leaked. These services can alert you to potential breaches and give you the chance to notify users and reset their passwords.

– Proactive Password Resets: If you discover that credentials for your users have been compromised, proactively force password resets for those accounts and notify affected users to change their passwords.

10. Enable Account Activity Alerts for Users

Keep users informed about their account activity by enabling account activity alerts. When users receive notifications about login attempts, password changes, or unusual activity, they can quickly respond and report any unauthorized access.

– Login Notifications: Send real-time alerts to users when their account is accessed from new devices, locations, or browsers. This gives users the opportunity to review the activity and report any suspicious behavior.

– Suspicious Activity Alerts: Notify users of failed login attempts or multiple unsuccessful login attempts on their account. Encourage users to change their password or enable MFA if they suspect their account is being targeted.

Conclusion

Credential hijacking is a growing threat that can lead to severe consequences for both users and businesses. By implementing a multi-layered defense strategy—including MFA, strong password policies, account monitoring, and user education—organizations can significantly reduce the risk of credential hijacking attacks.

Taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity, including monitoring for suspicious activity and regularly educating users on security best practices, will help ensure that your platform and its users are protected from the growing threat of credential hijacking.